THE death toll from floods that devastated vast parts of north and central Thailand has reached 780 confirmed dead with three people still missing.

THE death toll from floods that devastated vast parts of north and central Thailand has reached 780 confirmed dead with three people still missing.

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation department said on its website today that more than two million people are still affected by floods in five provinces north and west of Bangkok. The capital itself is dry.

Thailand's worst floods in half a century also destroyed millions of tons of crops and badly damaged industrial production.

The World Bank has estimated the damage at 45 billion US dollars and recovery and reconstruction needs at 25 billion US dollars.

The National Social and Economic Development Board has slashed Thailand's economic growth forecast to 1.5% from 3.5 to 4%.